Lovely Londonderry

Londonderry, Northern Ireland’s second city, celebrated its status as first ever UK City of Culture in 2013. In preparation for its year in the limelight, compact Derry (as it is called by the locals) had a makeover which included a new footbridge called the Peace Bridge which was built across the fast flowing River Foyle.

This city has pride in its past as well as its present.King James I of England had the wealthy guilds of London build up Derry, hence the addition of ‘London’ to its name. They surrounded it with defensive walls, making Derry the only completely walled city in the British Isles. When visiting, it is worth taking a guided walking tour of the walls which stand six metres thick and six metres high in parts to form a walkway around the inner city. Tours, lasting around one hour, depart regularly from Derry City Tour offices at 11 Carlisle Road.

Culture vultures will appreciate the city’s museums. One of the best is the award winning Tower Museum which tells the history of the city from prehistoric times up to the Northern Ireland peace process of the 1990s. The museum also documents the story of Spanish Armada ship La Trinidad Valencera which sank off the coast of Donegal in 1588 and lay undiscovered until 1971.

If you fancy some retail therapy you can choose from from city centre designer boutiques to high street names or department stores. Derry is home to Austins, the oldest independent department store in the world, predating Jenners, Harrods and Macys. Visit its rooftop restaurant for a bird’s eye view over the city and beyond.

Like any Irish city, Derry has numerous lively pubs, home to a burgeoning live-music scene and ideal for enjoying the 'craic' and sampling some Guinness. But perhaps the biggest attraction of all is Derry’s people, friendly, hospitable and witty.

Tip: The city is a handy base for visits to County Donegal in the Irish Republic or for day trips to the Giants Causeway, a volcanic formation of thousands of hexagonal rocks about an hour away on the North Coast